Wave of joy sweeps the nationNew Delhi, March 13A euphoric nation erupted into celebration as India scored a sensational last-ball win over subcontinent rivals Pakistan in the opening one-day encounter of the historic cricket series, against the hush that descended on the National Stadium in Karachi.

Laxman likely for next matchKARACHI: India’s ‘Very Very Special’ batsman, Laxman has not sustained a serious injury and is expected to be fit for the second one-dayer at Rawalpindi, the team management said on Saturday.

Priyanka Gandhi watches the first ODI between India and Pakistan along with her
brother Rahul Gandhi (R) and husband Robert Vadra (L) at the National Stadium in Karachi on Saturday.
— Reuters
photo

Reverse at Madrid
Pak beat India 4-2 in hockeyMadrid, March 13India failed to carry their cricketing success on the hockey turf as they were beaten 2-4 by Pakistan in the bronze medal play-off of the Olympic qualifying tournament here today.
It was a disappointing finish to India’s campaign in the 12-nation competition, although they have already qualified for the Athens Games in August.

SA check Kiwis’ progressHamilton, March 13Jacob Oram hit his maiden Test century as New Zealand scored 509, a first innings lead of 50, before South Africa checked their progress on the fourth day of the first Test today.

TN favourites in Ranji semisChennai, March 13Reminiscent of the finals between the two teams in 1987, Tamil Nadu and Railways will be battling it out in the five-day semi-final match of the Ranji trophy cricket championship to be played at the M A Chidambaram Stadium here from today.

Antil to lead Haryana Panchkula, March 13Ravina Antil of Jhajjar will lead the Haryana state athletic team in the 10th National Federation Cup (Senior) Athletic Championship to be held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, from March 16 to 18, according to Abhey Singh Chautala, President, Haryana State Amateur Athletic Association.

Rahul Dravid hits a shot during
his knock of 99 in Karachi on Saturday.— Reuters
photo

New Delhi, March 13
A euphoric nation erupted into celebration as India scored a sensational last-ball win over subcontinent rivals Pakistan in the opening one-day encounter of the historic cricket series, against the hush that descended on the National Stadium in Karachi.

Cricket-crazy fans poured out into the streets as India lifted their bowling performance when it mattered most to register a five-run-win and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

The entire nation appeared to have come to a standstill as the match was stretched to the wire, the Pakistanis needing just nine runs off the last over.

It was salvation for Ashish Nehra, who bowled the high-pressure 50th over, as he stopped the Green Shirts in their tracks to gift the Indian team and fans a memorable win.

Shreya, a college student, described the feeling of victory as “out of the world”.

“The win came as an enormous relief to all of us who have been glued to the TV since the first ball was bowled,” said the teenager who watched the game alongwith six of her friends.

“Nehra is the hero,” said a coffee-shop owner who had placed a friendly bet with his neighbour.

Sheer joy was writ on the faces of people in the metros and small towns alike.

Mumbai: The commercial capital of the country erupted in celebrations as India clinched a nail-biting victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the opening one-day international cricket match at Karachi today.

The cricket enthusiasts, who were glued to the television sets since the start of the match, poured on to the street to celebrate the win.

Firecrackers were burst and people came out of their houses to express their joy while some die-hard fans distributed sweets as soon as Pakistan wicketkeeper Moin Khan was out on the last ball of the innings.

“Though Pakistanis gave a brilliant fight, it is a fabulous win,” 17-year-old Manish told PTI soon after the match was over.

Mangal Karkhanis, an avid cricket fan, said the final overs of the match reminded her of Pakistan’s win in Sharjah almost two decades back when current Pakistan coach Javed Miandad hit a six on the last ball off Chetan Sharma’s over to give his side a thrilling win.
Claiming that India’s win was a “historic one”, another sports enthusiast said.
—PTI

Karachi, March 13
After bowling India to a narrow victory over Pakistan in the first one-day cricket international, Ashish Nehra described his match-winning final over as “the biggest over of my life”.

“It is a great feeling, that was the biggest over of my life. There was a lot of pressure but I bowled well,” said Nehra.

The left-arm seamer conceded only three runs besides taking a wicket as Pakistan, needing nine off the last six balls, fell short of India’s mammoth 349 for seven by five runs.

With the seasoned Moin Khan at the striker’s end, Pakistan needed six runs off the last ball to win. The situation reminded Javed Miandad’s last ball six off Chetan Sharma to give his team a thrilling win in Sharjah in 1986.

Nehra said he was confident of his bowling.

“He (Moin Khan) is a good batsman but I was keeping the ball right up there.”

Winning captain Saurav Ganguly hoped “it is not going to be so close for the next one month”.

“If it (the series) stays that close it is going to be too close for the two captains,” Ganguly said.

“The first 15 overs we had the match under control, but Inzy (Inzamam-ul Haq) batted superbly.”
— PTI

Jammu, March 13
India's victory in the first one-day international match was
celebrated here with bursting of crackers and fans distributing
sweets.

People came out of the houses to congratulate each other
after India scored a thrilling victory. The victory has a special
significance here. Mostly people remained glued to the TV screens till
the last ball was bowled.

Phagwara:
Crackers were burst and laddoos were distributed amidst impromptu “bhangra’
here tonight to celebrate India's victory over Pakistan in the one-day
match at Karachi today. Some fans illuminated their houses. — OC

PONDICHERRY:
People in Pondicherry today celebrated the thrilling Indian
victory over Pakistan in the first one-day international cricket match
in the historic series at Karachi by bursting crackers. — UNI

Karachi, March 13
On the sidelines of the great India-Pak cricket show, Priyanka Gandhi was making waves by her presence in the VIP stands at the National Stadium where the first one-day cricket international is underway.

Accompanied by husband Robert Vadra and brother Rahul, Priyanka, the charismatic daughter of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, looked at ease as the cameras focussed on her time and again.

The three were seated in the front row of the VIP enclosure with the Indian Tricolour fluttering nearby.

Lustily cheering the breezy batting of Virender Sehwag and Saurav Ganguly, they seemed to be enjoying every moment of Indian batting.

The Gandhis, who arrived here yesterday, are being accorded status of state guests during their three-day stay in the country.

Last evening they visited Edhi Foundation, Pakistan’s biggest charity organisation where they freely mingled with the inmates, gave away gifts and watched a dance drama by children of the centre.

*
The Indian cricket board and top security expert Yashowardhan Azad today gave kudos to the Pak Rangers for the excellent security arrangements in place for the first one-day cricket international between India and Pakistan here.

So pleased was BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya that he said the Indian team would certainly play a Test in Karachi the next time they tour Pakistan.

“This is a most orderly crowd here I have ever seen anywhere,” Dalmiya told a press conference here.

When asked if India will play a Test match here in future, he said: “We are aware of the sentiments of people of Karachi and will surely play here on our next visit”.

Azad, IG Police for VIP security in India, was visibly impressed with the expertise of the security personnel. DG Police Karachi and his team deserve kudos for the job,” he remarked.
— PTI

KARACHI: India’s ‘Very Very Special’ batsman, Laxman has not sustained a serious injury and is expected to be fit for the second one-dayer at Rawalpindi, the team management said on Saturday.

Laxman had to be replaced by Hemang Badani in first one-dayer with the former sitting out with a stiff left knee.

‘’Laxman had the stiffness on his left knee yesterday. After seeing his condition this morning, the physio (Andrew Leipus) felt that he was not fit for the match,’’ media manager Amrit Mathur told reporters.

‘’Leipus is working with him and he feels that Laxman will be fully fit for the next match. He will be included only if he passes the fitness test,’’ he added.
— UNI

Madrid, March 13
India failed to carry their cricketing success on the hockey turf as they were beaten 2-4 by Pakistan in the bronze medal play-off of the Olympic qualifying tournament here today.

It was a disappointing finish to India’s campaign in the 12-nation competition, although they have already qualified for the Athens Games in August.

Goals from Muhammed Shabbir (15th), Sohail Abbas (44th), Sahkeel Abbassi (55th) and Kashif Jawad (69th) ensured Pakistan’s back-to-back win against India, who had lost the earlier contest between the two teams in the tournament 3-5 last week.

Both teams played quite freely and it made for some pleasing moves and counter-moves. But the Indians paid the price for missing several chances and had to settle for fourth position in this 12-nation tournament.

Indians were clearly the better side in the first 35 minutes, their only blemish being the goal they conceded following a terrible mix-up between Vikram Pillay and Dilip Tirkey. It allowed Mohammad Nadeem to steam in from the left and flick to Shabhir to deflect the ball in.

That apart, the Indians conceded just one penalty corner and here too, first Ignace Tirkey and then Kanwalpreet Singh were alert to avert danger while denying Sohail Abbas any success.

Goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan made a couple of good saves that injected confidence in the deep defenders.

India’s midfield play was tight enough to check the Pakistani forwards who on the day struggled to shake off their makers.

At the other end, the Indians should have scored more than one goal that was a result of a right-wing counter-attack and Prabhjot Singh slamming home a rebound off goalkeeper Salman Akhtar who had blocked Deepak Thakur’s attempt.

A little before the goal, umpire Xavier Adell of Spain disallowed a penalty corner conversion by Kanwalpreet for “raised ball” though the hit was directed at the goalkeeper and the ball went in off the pads.

The Indian forwards took a couple of more close looks at the Pakistani goal, but further success eluded them due to wayward hitting, but overall, it was a satisfactory first-half for India.

However, Sohail Abbas, who had scored four goals when the teams last met, came good with the second penalty corner in the 43rd to put Pakistan 2-1 in the lead, and soon after, Abbasi capped a glorious counter-attack down the middle, putting home a Jawad pass.

The Indians hit back in the 59th as Gagan Ajit made some amends for his costly misses earlier by slamming to boards a Len Aiyappa pass.

It was little consolation for the striker as he twice failed to score from one-on-one situation inside the circle.

A minute from close, Pakistan did just that with Jawad scoring from zero angle drawing out Chauhan.

South Africa qualify

South Africa, trailing 1-2 with five seconds left, squeezed out a 6-5 aggregate win against Belgium via the tie-breaker to qualify for the hockey competition of the Athens Olympics here today.
— PTI

Hamilton, March 13
Jacob Oram hit his maiden Test century as New Zealand scored 509, a first innings lead of 50, before South Africa checked their progress on the fourth day of the first Test today.

South Africa arrested the slide with a partnership of 92 between Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis and at close of play, with Gibbs out, they were 134 for three, a lead of 84. Kallis was unbeaten on 56 and Neil McKenzie on 11.

Oram finished unbeaten on 119 when New Zealand were all out early in the afternoon session in reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 459. He reached his first Test hundred off 191 balls in 276 minutes and hit 16 fours.

Kingston, March 13
A record partnership between Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain helped England reach 154 for three at the end of a rain-hit second day of the first Test against West Indies.

Having finished off the West Indies for 311 inside the day's first two overs, England lost both openers to the fiery pace of Fidel Edwards, but Butcher and Hussain added 119 in a record third-wicket stand between the two sides at Sabina Park.

Butcher, who only passed a fitness test on his injured ankle on the eve of the match, was dropped twice but batted well before finally becoming Edwards' third victim, caught behind for 58 just before the close.

Hussain was on 41 at the close, while Graham Thorpe was not out one. Edwards finished with figures of three for 50.

West Indies also suffered an injury blow with captain Brain Lara dislocating the little finger on his right hand when he dropped Butcher just before the close.

Lara is to have a precautionary X-ray on the injury, but it is not yet known if he will be able to bat in the second innings.

Having failed to add to their overnight total of 311 for nine when Edwards was superbly caught by Andrew Flintoff at second slip to give matthew Hoggard his third wicket, West Indies hit back with some spirited fast bowling.

England captain Michael Vaughan cracked one trademark cover drive for four, but both openers struggled against the pace of Edwards and Corey Collymore, the latter having a confident leg-before appeal against the England captain turned down.

KINGSTON: England batsman Mark Butcher said batting had been difficult against the pace of the West Indies attack on day two of the first Test on Friday.

The left-hander, who only passed a late fitness test on his strained ankle on the eve of the match, hit 58 and added 119 with Nassar Hussain, a third-wicket record between the two teams at Sabina Park, to lift England to 154 for three at the close on a rain-hit day, 157 behind the home side. Butcher reached a half-century for the 18th time in Tests but was annoyed at being dismissed just before the close to the pace of Fidel Edwards, who took all three wickets to fall.
— Reuters

Chennai, March 13
Reminiscent of the finals between the two teams in 1987, Tamil Nadu and Railways will be battling it out in the five-day semi-final match of the Ranji trophy cricket championship to be played at the M A Chidambaram Stadium here from today.

Playing on the home turf, Tamil Nadu will start as favourites, but they will be under pressure, having to settle a score with Railways, who had defeated them when the teams last met in 2002 in the quarter-finals.

While Tamil Nadu, who had lost to Mumbai in the final last year from a position of strength, qualified for the semi-finals in the new format this year from Elite B ahead of Hyderabad, Railways have qualified from Elite A group behind Mumbai. Mumbai are taking on Hyderabad in the other semi-final match.

Tamil Nadu, fielding many youngsters, will be missing Hemang Badani and more so its fast bowling spearhead L Balaji, who are part of the Indian team that is currently touring Pakistan. The Railways would be looking to skipper and former Indian player Sanjay Bangar, left hander T P Singh, who was in good nick in the league phase, and all-rounders J P Yadav and Amit Pagnis to run into form. Railways could hope to exploit the not-so-strong Tamil Nadu bowling attack to put up a fighting score.

Panchkula, March 13
Ravina Antil of Jhajjar will lead the Haryana state athletic team in the 10th National Federation Cup (Senior) Athletic Championship to be held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, from March 16 to 18, according to Abhey Singh Chautala, President, Haryana State Amateur Athletic Association.

Shimla, March 13
A four-member team will represent Himachal Pradesh in the National Golf Championship to be held at Chandigarh in the first week of April.

The team was selected on the basis of the tournament conducted by the state golf association, here today. I.D. Bhandari and Munish Dhyan Chand emerged joint winners of the 18-hole tournament with 73 strokes each. Prithvi Vikram Sen (77 strokes) and Arjun Sood (78 strokes) secured the second and third position, respectively, to make it to the state team.

Kolkata:
The minnows of National Football League (NFL) Mohameddan Sporting and Tollygunge Agragami settled for a 1-1 draw at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Saturday.

After the 15th round Mohammedan Sporting have 16 points compared to Tollygunge 15. The first goal came in the 13th minute of the first half when Chiddi collecting a ball from the midfield, dribbled past a couple of players and set up Sayeed Hussain, who in turn flicked the ball to Rahim Nabi. The willy striker dodged past IsiAka and Barbara to fire home to give Mohammedan Sporting a 1-0 lead. The game continued to be played in an extremely scrappy manner as none of the teams could make inroads into the rival territory.
— UNI

Fatehgarh Sahib, March 13
The annual athletics meet of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib will be held at Nawab Sher Mohamad Khan Stadium of the college. The Principal Dr D.S. Hira, and the Director (Sports), Dr D.S.
Seehra, informed mediapersons today that the two-day meet would start on March 15 and a former Chairman of
Punsup, Mr Kirpal Singh Libra, would preside.

Apart from the field and track events, a cricket match would also be organised between the college faculty and students. They said the college was leading the tally of marks for the overall PTU sports championship of this academic session while in the last session, the college was the overall Punjab Technical University
champion.